Former Steelers DB shares how Mike Tomlin feels about 2024 season

Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back and current ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark shared an interesting take about Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin during Wednesday's edition of the "Get Up" television program. 

"I was down in Orlando," Clark explained, according to Joe Clark of Steelers Depot. "I was at the owners meetings, and the excitement that [Tomlin] has going into this season is unlike excitement I've ever seen from him. It feels like he was in the offseason heading into [2008]." 

Tomlin guided the 2008 Steelers to a Super Bowl XLIII victory over the Arizona Cardinals in February 2009. Clark, meanwhile, played for Tomlin from 2007 through the 2013 campaign. 

It's been a fascinating offseason for the Steelers, as they signed veteran quarterback Russell Wilson to a team-friendly deal before they shipped 2022 first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles. Pittsburgh later acquired signal-caller Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears for a conditional 2025 sixth-round draft selection, and most believe that Tomlin will give Fields a chance to win the starting job from training camp through the preseason. 

The Steelers also landed former Baltimore Ravens star linebacker Patrick Queen in free agency. 

Some are already predicting that Fields will be Pittsburgh's Week 1 starter, and at least one executive thinks the Steelers could part ways with Wilson before the regular season opens. Clark didn't offer such an extreme take on Pittsburgh's quarterback situation, but he sounds confident that Fields will thrive in his new football home. 

"It's not gonna be that Russell Wilson is gonna have to motivate Justin Fields to be anything," Clark said. "It's that Justin Fields is gonna understand what it means when you walk past those six Lombardi trophies, how he's in a place with a guy like (wide receiver) George Pickens on the outside, (running back) Najee Harris in the backfield, a tight end like [Pat] Freiermuth, what he can be. That he can truly unlock his potential." 

As of Wednesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Steelers last among the four AFC North clubs to claim the division title at +850 betting odds. They are +200 to qualify for the postseason. 

Many clearly aren't high on the current Steelers even though the club made the playoffs this past campaign, but that seemingly isn't impacting Tomlin's feelings on what could come for the organization this fall.